Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of joints with proliferation of synovial epithelial tissue. Therapeutic approach of the RA consists of pharmacological and surgical interventions. Synovectomy is indicated in patients with progressive inflammatory signs and symptoms intractable to medical treatment including local intracavitary steroid injection. Recently, local injection of radionuclides which emit high energy beta rays are labeled with chemical compounds such as 90Y, 165Dy-ferric hydroxide macroaggregate and have been introduced as an alternative therapeutic modality to surgical synovectomy. Holmium-166 is one of beta emitter and Ho-166-chitosan complex was developed for radiation synovectomy. Preclinical trial is on-going at our hospital using Ho-166-chitosan. The procedure and methods of preclinical trial are discussed.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Beta Particles ; Humans ; Joints ; Radioisotopes

It is to report a clinical experience of a case of irradiation cataract following the period of 5 years post-operative pterygium on 59 years old man. As the occurrence of irradiation cataract is generally with long latent period and the clinical and histopathological features of the Beta ray cataract is similar to the remainder categories of opacities, it is important that condition of history of irradiation and characteristic localization of the lenticular opacity are noteworthy in which the dosage of total radiation, age, exposure time, treated area and method of treatment are much influencing.
Beta Particles* ; Cataract* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pterygium

The etiology of pterygium has given rise to much discussion, innumerable factors has been inculpated. Surgical treatment with beta radiation is at present thc only satisfactory approach, but no surgical technique is universally accepted as being perfect. Recurrences of pterygium are distressing, for the pterygium grows again at a rapid pace and may scon become as large or larger than the original growth. A multiple of different operative techniques has been advocated, but excision of the head of pterygium from the cornea has not been discussed. Author have excised the head of pterygium from limbus to corneal side. Author's method is much more easily and clearly excised than excision of its head from cornea to limbal side.
Beta Particles ; Cornea ; Dronabinol ; Head* ; Pterygium* ; Recurrence

To study the effect of beta ray irradiation in preventing the recurrence of pterygium following surgical removal, clinical observation was made on 483 eyes in 447 patients who received. beta ray irradiation by 90Sr applicator (SIA-2) after operation for pterygium. Irradiation was given in doses of 360 rads 4 times with 2 days interval from immediately afteroperation. The results were as the followings: 1. Most cases were 31-40 years of age (158 eyes, 32.7% ); next, 41~50 years of age (112 eyes, 23.2%); the least, over 71 years of age (5 eyes, 1.0%). 2. All 483 cases consisted of 292 eyes (60.5%) in female and 191 eyes (39.5%) in male, but there was no significant difference in the site of the disease; right eyes, 257 eyes (53.2%) and left eyes (226 eyes)(46.8%). 3. Of all cases. 460 eyes (95.2%) was primary pterygium and 23 eyes (4.8%) recurrent pterygium. 4. Over all incidence of recurrence was 1.9% (9 eyes) of which primary pterygium occupied 1.7% (8 eyes) and recurrent type 0.2% (1 eye). 5. Of the patients with bilateral involvement, 3 cases showed unilateral recurrence.
Beta Particles ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Pterygium* ; Recurrence

Coronary restenosis is still regarded as Achilles' Hill of interventional cardiology despite relentless efforts of many investigators. Recent experimental and clinical studies have suggested that both gamma and beta radiation can be reduce restenosis after angioplasty. Currently, intracoronary brachytherapy for the prevention of restenosis has become a new evolving treatment modality in interventional cardiology. This report discusses a physical aspect of gamma and beta radiation, initial clinical results and delivery systems used in intracoronary brachytherapy. We shall take a brief overview of methods and their advantages in intracoronary brachytherapy. Future work should provide further insight for the best way of treating restenosis.
Angioplasty ; Beta Particles ; Brachytherapy ; Cardiology ; Coronary Restenosis ; Humans ; Research Personnel

Intraperitoneal adminstration of radioisotopes is suggested to treat the metastatic ovarian cancer in the pertioneal cavity. Administering beta-emitting radioisotopes into the pertioneal cavity allows the maximum energy delivery to the cancerous cells of the pertioneal wall surface while sparing the normal cells located in deep site of the peritoneal wall. In this study, dose estimates of the peritoneal wall are provided to be used for prescribing the amount of 166Ho-chitosan complex administered. The 166Ho-chitosan complex diffused in the peritoneal fluid may attach to the peritoneal wall surface. The attachment fraction of 166Ho-chitosan complex to the peritoneal wall surface is obtained by simulating the ascites with Fischer rats. Both volume source in the peritoneal fluid and the surface source over the peritoneal wall surface are counted for the contribution to the peritoneal wall dose. The Monte Carlo code EGS4 is used to simulate the energy transfer of the beta particles emitted from 166Ho. A plane geometrical model of semi-infinite volume describes the peritoneal cavity and peritoneal wall. A semi-infinite plane of 10 micrometer in thickness at every 1 mm of depth in the peritoneal wall is taken as the target in dose estimation. Greater han 98 percents of attachment fraction has been observed from the experiments with Fischer rats. Given 1.3 microcurie/cm2 and 2.4 microcurie/ml of uniform activity density, absorbed dose is 123 Gy, 8.59 Gy, 3.00 Gy, 1.03 Gy, and 327 Gy at 0 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm in depth to the peritoneal wall, respectively.
Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid ; Beta Particles ; Energy Transfer ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Radioisotopes ; Rats, Inbred F344

One hundred and eight cases who had Sr(90) irradiation in preventing pterygium recurrence were studied. The average follow up period in this series was more than one year and maximum of 3 years. The following results were obtained. 1. Three pterygium recurrences out of 11 cases (27.3%) were found in group of 1200 rads and one out of 9 (11%) in 1800 rads group. These recurrent cases did not have enough amount of irradition due to patient's conditions. No pterygium recurrences were observed in 88 cases of 2400, 3000, 3600, and 4200 rads groups. We think that the amount of post irradiation for prevnting recurrence is more than 2400 rads. Subacute reaction of post irradiation occurred in 3000, 3600, and 4200 rads groups; 7 cases out of 76 cases (9.2%). Our cases have not been followed long enough to rule out late complications, especially radiation cataract and telangiectasis of conjunctival vessels. No late complications, however, have been found up to three years after Sr(90) irradiatron. 3. Post irradiative medication of hydrocortisone eye drops (0.5% qid) was continued from immediately after irradiation to 3 days after last irradiation. The application of hydrocortisone eye drops seems to decrease the rate, mitigate the symptoms, and shorten the duration of treatment of transient and subacute reactions.
Beta Particles* ; Cataract ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hydrocortisone ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Pterygium* ; Recurrence ; Telangiectasis

Some of chronic benign recurrent dermatoses are markedly recalcitrant to the ordinary dermatological treatments. The author studied the therapeutic effect of beta ray on those of 30 patients including 6 cases of psoriasis, 3 of lichen simplex chronicus, 9 of nummular eczema, 8 of pustulosis palmaris et plantaris, and 4 of chronic eczema of the finger. All of the above were promptly recurred with ordinary treatments. Strontium 90 applicator was used as the source of beta ray and the total irradiation doses to each sites were ranged from 600 to 1500 rads in divided doses(usually weekly) over 2 to 3 weeks. The results were as follows, 1. In psoriasis patients with papular type were cleared by strontium 90, however, with chronic localized plaque type were poorly responded. The relapses of the cleared papular type were noticed between 13 to 24 days intervals, and it appeared that the larger doses did not influence significantly the clinical results. 2. Almost all of the chronic eczematous dermatoses including lichen simplex chronicus, nummular eczema, pustulosis Palmaris et plantaris, and chronic eczema of the finger, which were irradiated by beta rays following clearance with preliminary corticosteroid therapy, were recurred between 2 to 4 weeks intervals. However, larger doses resulted in prolonged recurrence intervals in a few patients. 3. No noticeable eariy hazards of irradiation were detected except for the mild hyperpigmentation on the irradiated skin.
Beta Particles ; Eczema ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Neurodermatitis ; Psoriasis ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Strontium*

Rarely necrotizing scleritis has been reported as a complication of the pterygiectomy and author experienced that three cases of the scleral ulcerations developed after pterygiectomy were successfully treated by medical management. The cases had histories of beta irradiation, instillation of mitomycin and cauterization with silver nitrate solution respectively during the post operative course for the purpose of preventing recurrence. The ulcer showed small punched-out scleral lesions 3 X 4, 5 X 8, and 3 X 5mm. respectively in size and situated just anterior to the insertion of the medial rectus muscle. The sclera is essentialiy collagenous, avascular and scanty of cellular components thus a proliferative reaction to injury rarely occurs, but rather healing is primarily dependent on neighbouring mesenchymal tissue. Beta ray and mitomycin suppress the mitotic activity and inhibit the healing process of the injuried sclera. It is stressed that caution should be exerted in application of noxious agents for the purpose of preventing recurrence especially in the bare scleral method, as these seemed not only to interfere with the healing of the collagen structures but sometimes resulting in a scleral ulceration.
Beta Particles ; Cautery ; Collagen ; Mitomycin ; Recurrence ; Sclera ; Scleritis* ; Silver Nitrate ; Ulcer

Rarely necrotizing scleritis has been reported as a complication of the pterygiectomy and author experienced that three cases of the scleral ulcerations developed after pterygiectomy were successfully treated by medical management. The cases had histories of beta irradiation, instillation of mitomycin and cauterization with silver nitrate solution respectively during the post operative course for the purpose of preventing recurrence. The ulcer showed small punched-out scleral lesions 3 X 4, 5 X 8, and 3 X 5mm. respectively in size and situated just anterior to the insertion of the medial rectus muscle. The sclera is essentialiy collagenous, avascular and scanty of cellular components thus a proliferative reaction to injury rarely occurs, but rather healing is primarily dependent on neighbouring mesenchymal tissue. Beta ray and mitomycin suppress the mitotic activity and inhibit the healing process of the injuried sclera. It is stressed that caution should be exerted in application of noxious agents for the purpose of preventing recurrence especially in the bare scleral method, as these seemed not only to interfere with the healing of the collagen structures but sometimes resulting in a scleral ulceration.
Beta Particles ; Cautery ; Collagen ; Mitomycin ; Recurrence ; Sclera ; Scleritis* ; Silver Nitrate ; Ulcer